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AUTHOR: R Quinn on 12/01/2024
ThinkAdvisor has a list of the 12 cheapest states for retirees to live a comfortable retirement. The estimated income needed ranges from about $63,000 to $58,000 a year.
Their report defines “comfortable “as individual’s spending on housing, groceries, transportation and health care in each of the 50 states to determine the average retirement income necessary for a comfortable retirement lifestyle.
There is no single definition of comfortable retirement. Alabama is one of the states on the list. Having lived off base in Alabama for 18 months while in the army, I can attest I would not be comfortable there. Others would love it i suspect and be aghast at living in NJ.- definitely not on the list.
Is a comfortable retirement any different than a comfortable life? I don’t think so. Also, I’m pretty sure that “comfortable” includes more that just money. You can have sufficient money but not be comfortable where you live or with the people around you.
I’d like to add minimum stress and worries as part of being comfortable, but not sure that’s realistic.
The real question is not where you live, but how. I tried getting Gemini AI to define “comfortable” and it went in circles.
My simple definition is to live in retirement as you did before with little or no required compromises, no long-term financial concerns and no need to worry about paying bills or limiting desired activities- travel, dining out, attending events, whatever you fancy.
And I don’t want to move to Alabama to do it.
Am I asking too much?
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Dick, I have researched a few locations for retirement and have found that I need to live in a rich county. Look at a list of the wealthiest counties in the country and you will find that you and I live in one of those wealthy counties. I agree with you about Alabama, I won’t live there either. Billy Bob will not be my dentist and my plumber!
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I don’t live in one of the richest counties, but the median household income in the town here I live is substantially higher than the highest county in the country.
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